Everton FC staff to scale Kilimanjaro to raise funds for club charity Everton in the Community

22 Dec 2010 04:00:00

STAFF at Everton will be on the march for Moyesy's army as they tackle a daunting climb of Kilimanjaro.
The highest free-standing mountain in the world awaits club finance director Martin Evans, head groundsman Bob Lennon, fundraising and events assistant Carena Duffy and fellow climber Phil Maclean in a gruelling eight-day challenge in January which has the whole club talking.
Inspired by the work of the club's official charity, Everton in the Community, the team signed up to the task 12 months ago, and have prepared by travelling the UK and conquering some of the toughest summits in the country in horrendous weather conditions.
Martin Evans and Phil Maclean completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours, whilst Carena Duffy and Bob Lennon hiked to the top of Scaffell Pike in knee-deep snow - all in their Everton shirts.
The group, who also conquered Snowdon, Helvelyn and Ben Nevis in their build up, recently underwent a day of training at Everton's Finch Farm training ground under the supervision of club physiotherapist Richie Porter.
The experience, which Bob Lennon described as 'hell', saw the four climbers get to grips with some state-of-the-art training techniques.
Despite their rigorous preparation, each group member admits to feeling apprehensive about the challenge as it nears and they believe their build up is nothing more than a pre-season friendly in comparison to what awaits in Tanzania.
Martin Evans is concerned at the prospect of altitude sickness, whilst Carena Duffy admits to worries over how a call of nature can take place at 5,895 metres above sea level!
Bob Lennon said: 'The treks we've done to date have been wrapped up in 24 hours, where as this one will last eight days, so there is a fear of the unknown.'